US Fighter Jet Crashes in Persian Gulf, Helicopter Missing in Nepal
Story Code : 460394
Both crewmembers survived, the release issued by Fifth Fleet said, adding that the
crash was not a result of hostile activity.
The two personnel from Strike Fighter Squadron 211 ejected and were quickly
recovered by search and rescue personnel from the ship, said the Fifth Fleet, which is responsible for the area where the Roosevelt is deployed, conducting
air strikes against ISIL Takfiri group in Iraq and Syria.
Meanwhile, a US Marine Corps helicopter carrying out earthquake relief in
Nepal was reported missing on Tuesday with eight personnel on board, officials said.
"The incident occurred near Charikot, Nepal while the aircraft was conducting
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations," said Major Dave Eastburn,
spokesman for US Pacific Command.
The UH-1Y Huey, which was carrying tarps and rice, had just dropped off supplies
and was headed to another destination, officials said.
Before the chopper went missing, there was "some chatter about a fuel problem"
on the radio from the helicopter crew, Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steven Warren said.
The chopper was carrying six US Marines and two soldiers from the Nepalese army, officials said.
The Huey helicopter was last seen west of Charikot but a search of the area was nsuccessful.
A search by aircraft before nightfall had not spotted any sign of smoke or any crash site,
raising hopes the helicopter may have made a safe emergency landing, he said.
The Nepalese army was conducting a search on the ground but aircraft could not
fly until daylight to resume the search from the air.